So with the near demise of the 1070, any rumors as to what the new receiver will be and when it will be available?

Not much... The announcement of the 1070's retirement included mention that plans were in the works, but that there was nothing in the immediate future. Market pressures will presumably require that it include HDMI, but beyond that there's no word of what it might offer (power, numbers of inputs, video capabilities, ...). Maybe mid-2008?